Home : Advocacy : South Village : Latest News : 6/14/19

Site Map/Search

SoHo-NoHo ‘Preliminary Recommendations’ Revealed, Could Lead to Big Changes   The area of SoHo and NoHo where potential zoning changes are being examined.   Last night the ‘Summary of Preliminary Recommendations’ by the consultant hired by the Mayor’s Department of City Planning, Borough President Gale Brewer, and City Councilmember Margaret Chin to examine the rules governing SoHo and NoHo and potentially propose changes were revealed – see them here. This is the beginning of a process by which the City is likely to propose zoning and other changes regarding future development in these two vital, historic neighborhoods. The preliminary recommendations were mostly vague, with few specifics about how many of the proposed changes would be achieved.  But some clearly indicated that upzoning of certain areas of SoHo and NoHo were a possibility, as a means to “create housing and live-work opportunities on underused land.”  While the presentation made a point of emphasizing that any changes would “respect neighborhood character,” keep in mind that the Mayor’s Department of City Planning has said that the development of 300+ ft. tall office and condo towers and 300+ room hotels in the area directly north of here – the University Place/Broadway/3rd/4th Avenue corridors - also respects the character of those neighborhoods.   Images of new development in SoHo (l.) and NoHo, showing the scale allowed under current rules.  An upzoning could dramatically increase the allowable size of new development.   The process sponsors indicated that any proposals would come to Community Board 2 for a hearing in October.  In the meantime, it’s important to send a message to the three project sponsors, as well as area Councilmembers Carlina Rivera and Corey Johnson, that any ‘upzoning’ – a change in zoning rules that would allow larger buildings than current rules allow (about 10+ stories currently) – would be unacceptable. TO HELP:   Tell City Officials an Upzoning for SoHo or NoHo is Unacceptable – CLICK HERE   Next: 9/17/19

Home : Advocacy : South Village : Latest News : 6/14/19